What Are Mushrooms?

In all lawns, there are hundreds, thousands of fungi.

They’re the most active micro-organism in turf. They help degrade lawn thatch and feed on dead organic matter such as fallen leaves, old grass cuttings, dead grass roots, bits of decaying bark or dying tree roots. This, in turn, provides the soil with nutrients which aids grass growth.

Although you won’t see most fungi, a few species produce mushrooms or toadstools.

These mushrooms are referred to as ‘Fruit’. They’re the reproductive structure of the fungi and they come in all different shapes and sizes, not just the classic mushroom shape we’re all familiar with.

If you look at the underside of a mushroom you’ll see lots of gills. These gills contain millions of spores which get carried through the air and germinate when they land in favourable conditions.

Good Mushrooms vs. Bad Mushrooms

Most of the time mushrooms in your lawn is a sign that it is in good health with nutrient-rich soil.

Yes, they might be an eyesore but they’re easy enough to get rid of (more on that later!)

Sometimes though, they can be a sign of trouble.

If you have mushrooms or toadstools that grow in a circle in your lawn you could be looking at a fungal infection commonly called ‘Fairy Rings’.

Because the Mycelium will still exist, chances are that mushrooms will come back when conditions are favourable.

To completely stop mushrooms growing you must kill the Mycelium from which they grow which is;

a) Nearly impossible, and
b) Not recommended because of the benefits it brings to the health of your lawn

If Your Lawn is Taken Over By Mushrooms, Consider Replacing it

A few mushrooms in your lawn is common and a good thing but if mushrooms have completely taken over, consider replacing it.

A lawn that is packed with mushrooms is horrible to look at and it could be dangerous for kids and pets to use.

Removing the turf could uncover decaying organic matter that should be removed to prevent mushrooms from growing back. It might also be wise to replace the topsoil as the amount of Mycelium will be extensive.

How to Prevent Mushrooms Growing in Your Lawn

Completely preventing mushrooms from growing in your lawn is almost impossible. Given the right conditions, they can pop up no matter what you do.

That said, there are things you can do to reduce the chances of them appearing. We already touched on a couple of them earlier in this article but they’re worth repeating;

Scarify Your Lawn to Reduce Thatch

Mushrooms can form as they break down organic material in your lawns thatch layer.

By scarifying you;

Reduce the amount of organic material that fungi can feed on in the thatch layer, and

Allow more water to penetrate into the soil so it’s not sat on the surface or in the thatch layer.

If Possible Reduce Shaded Areas

If mushrooms grow in the shaded areas of your lawn, try pruning the surrounding trees to allow more sunlight onto your lawn. Also, prune any hedges as this will improve airflow over the garden.

If buildings cast shade over your lawn there might not be a lot you can do. If it’s cast by fences, try replacing solid fence panels with slotted ones. This will let more light through.

Wrapping Up

If mushrooms pop up in your lawn, don’t panic.

In nearly all cases they won’t harm your lawn, they are quietly going about their business helping to decompose dead, organic matter and putting nutrients back into the soil. Nutrients which your grass can use to create food and grow.

Still, it’s a good idea to remove them to avoid kids and pets being poisoned.

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